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Eco-labeling programs

WHAT WE DO    >    Eco-Friendly Products    >    Eco-labeling programs 

Overview

Eco-labelling programs have been implemented to provide information on the environmental impacts of products, encouraging consumers to choose green products and prompting companies to develop and produce eco-friendly products.

In 1992, Republic of Korea first implemented the eco-labeling program by enacting regulations on the operation of environmental labeling programs. One of the representative environmental labeling programs in Korea is the Environmental Labeling System, which is part of the international standard ISO environmental labeling with three types: Type Ⅰ, Type Ⅱ, Type Ⅲ. The Environmental Product Declaration system corresponds to Type Ⅲ.
 


Difference between Eco-Label and Environmental Product Declaration 

  • Eco-Label: Certification(Product testing and analysis) for products that have improved environmental impact compared to products of the same purpose. 
  • Environmental Product Declaration: Measure the amount of carbon emissions, water consumption, etc., generated during production and disposal, and write them on the product after quantification. (Life-Cycle assessment) 

The Eco-Labeling System is a certification system implemented by the government(Ministry of Environment) based on Article 17(Certification of Eco-Label) of the Environmental Technology and Industry Support Act. It certifies environmentally friendly products with excellent quality and performance, not only for comprehensive environmental impacts throughout the product life cycle.


The Eco-labeling system is a voluntary certification system that selects environmentally friendly products among products and services of the same purpose, aiming to reduce energy and resource consumption and minimize the generation of pollutants throughout each stage of production, distribution, use, and disposal. It displays the following logo and description.

For eco-label certification, applicants must undergo testing and analysis of their products and services according to specified test methods. They must then verify the test results from inspection agencies such as the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI).

Related laws

  • Environmental Technology And Industry Support Act Article 17, 19, 21-2, 26

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Implementation System

The Eco-labeling system is certified by the Ministry of Environment and operated by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI). The Ministry of Environment and KEITI perform the following tasks related to eco-labeling:

Procedure

When a company submits an application for eco-label certification, the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) receives it and   proceeds with approval according to the following process:

 Application
Confirm whether the item to be applied for falls under the scope of eco-labeling products, and then prepare the documents and submit them to the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute

 Validation
The KEITI staff verifies the conformity of the submitted documents with the actual site

 Request
The KEITI staff collects samples, and the applicant requests a testing agency to issue an original test report, which is then submitted to the KEITI

 Discussion
Convene the Environmental Labeling Certification Review Committee, composed of at least 7 and up to 10 experts, to determine whether to grant eco-label usage

 Agreement
Submit an eco-label usage plan and enter into agreements with the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute regarding eco-label usage

Environmental Product Declaration

The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) system is a mechanism designed to quantify and display environmental information throughout the entire life cycle of products and services, including raw material extraction, production, transportation, distribution, use, and disposal.


It aims to improve the environmental impact of products and services by accurately and transparently disclosing their environmental impacts. Through the EPD system, various environmental impacts such as carbon footprint, water footprint, ozone depletion potential, acidification, eutrophication, photochemical smog, and resource depletion are measured and indicated with corresponding marks, thereby guiding continuous environmental improvement. 

EPDs require a mandatory life cycle assessment (LCA) for products. Detailed information about the life cycle assessment can be found on the LCA page

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TEL                

E-MAIL        

ADDRESS  

070-7543-5473

admin@rci.re.kr

12F, 324, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea 

Copyright 2024 ⓒ RESERVE CARBON. ALL Rights Reserved.